The Show is Over for the Big Ticket

This year, we have absolutely witnessed the End of an Era. First, Kobe Bryant announces his retirement with a great farewell tour. Next, Tim Duncan announces his Exit from the Game with a retirement that was as quiet as his Career. Now, another star from that I grew up watching has closed the Curtain on his Hall of Fame Career as well. Tim Duncan's other rival and polar opposite in every way, Kevin Garnett. Even though Moses Malone was the first player to jump to the Pros (ABA in 1974) from High School, Kevin Garnett was a Pioneer for the Modern Generation because he opened the door for HS Players to get large contracts. Garnett brought Energy and Intensity to the Game as he was not only the Leader from his Production, but he was also the Emotional Leader to spark his teammates. For the first 12 Seasons of his Career, Kevin Garnett CARRIED the Minnesota Timberwolves as far as he could. Along with the likes of Tim Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, and others, KG was one of the Premiere Players of his Generation. He was also one of the Top Three Power Forwards of his Era with Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki. KG and Duncan would become forever linked in NBA History.

The highest level that Minnesota reached in Franchise History was an appearance in the Western Conference Finals vs the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004. Garnett was league MVP. However, the T-Wolves fell to the Lakers. Within the next three years, things would fall apart for Minnesota as Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics for a greater window of opportunity. In 2007, Kevin Garnett joined forces with Paul Pierce and 3-Point Legend Ray Allen in Boston. Garnett won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, his first Season with the Celtics. That year, the Celtics defeated the Lakers for their 17th Championship. However, the Celtics reign was cut short in 2009 as Garnett missed the playoffs because of an injury. Boston would return to the Finals in 2010 as they would face Kobe Bryan's Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers would repeat as Champions by defeating the Celtics in Seven Games because of an injury to Kendrick Perkins. Meanwhile, the Celtics would also be known as the rival of LeBron James as they destroyed Cleveland on their way back to the Finals. Miami would eventually overcome the Celtics hurdle on their way to winning back to back NBA Finals.

When his time in Boston had come to an end, KG would make the move to Brooklyn to play for the Nets along with former Celtic Paul Pierce. During his time in Brooklyn, Kevin Garnett joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone as the only three players in NBA History with 25,000 points, 14,000 rebounds and 5,000 assists. The Nets made it to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals where they were defeated by the Miami Heat 4-1. Midway through the 2014-15 Season, Kevin Garnett agreed to waive his no-trade clause in order to be traded back to Minnesota in exchange for Thaddeus Young. Minnesota's favorite son returned. Garnett was back at the place where it all began, which is another great way to end your career. He was no longer the Kid, but the Senior of the NBA. During his last run in Minnesota, Garnett reached 26,000 Career Points and surpassed Karl Malone on the NBA's All-Time Defensive Rebounds list. Minnesota was the house that KG built.

Kevin Garnett was also a Modern Day Pioneer for the way that Big Men currently play by taking more jump shots and looking for other ways to score. Big Men are taking more of the face up approach than back to the basket. Garnett has also created a new culture of Basketball in Minnesota. KG was named "The Big Ticket" because people would buy a Ticket just to see him play. Garnett was the Box Office Attraction for the Timberwolves. Kevin played with the Passion and Intensity of a Bloodthirsty Timber Wolf. He was a Classic General on and off the Court. There will never be another like Kevin Garnett. The Hall of Fame Class of 2021 just got even Stronger.

Resume:
NBA Championships: 1 (2008)
NBA MVPs: 1 (2004)
Defensive Player of the Year: 1 (2008)
15x NBA All-Star ('97-2011, 2013)
4x All-NBA 1st Team (2000, '03, '04, '08)
3x All-NBA 2nd Team ('01, '02, '05)
2x All-NBA 3rd Team ('99, '07)
9x All-Defensive 1st Team (2000-2005, 2008-2009, 2011)
3x All-Defensive 2nd Team (2006-2007, 2012)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (2003)
NBA All-Rookie Selection 2nd Team (1996)
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (2006)
Only NBA Player to reach 25,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, 5,000 assists, 1,500 steals and 1,500 blocks

Stats:
Points: 26,701
Rebounds: 14,662
Assists: 5,445
Blocks: 2,037
Steals: 1,859
FG%: 49.7%
3PT%: 27.5%
FT%: 78.9%

History Rewritten: NBA MVP Awards (1973)

In this edition of "History Rewritten", I would like to explore the travesty of the 1973 NBA MVP Award. This was yet another fishy MVP Race that I did not agree with. Without question, I will rename a much better choice for the MVP Award. However, I believe that the 1969 MVP Race was even more egregious than this one. There is no way in the world that I believe Wes Unseld was the Most Valuable Player for that season. I think Elvin Hayes was a more valuable rookie than Wes that year. The 1973 Race was not on the same level as the '62 Race, but better than the one in 1969. Here is the background for that season. The Boston Celtics won a franchise record 68 games. Bill Russell's teams NEVER won that many games. Even Larry Bird's teams NEVER won 68 games either. The 1986 Celtics won 67 games instead. Boston was pretty deep that season, with the combination of Dave Cowens and John Havlicek along with JoJo White and others. This team was a year away from winning the championship. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was on fire that season with yet another stellar campaign with Milwaukee. He was the defending two-time MVP, as he was the Alpha Dog of the league. Nate "Tiny" Archibald became the smallest Scoring Champion in NBA History, when he averaged 34.0 ppg. That season, Tiny also led the league in Assists with 11.4 apg. Those were the three strongest cases.

With that said, the NBA decided to narrow the Award to one man:

Dave Cowens:

Cowens Season Statistics: (20.5 ppg/16.2 rpg/4.1 apg/45.2% FG/77.9% FT)

Cowens had a great season, but he blended within a team that was very strong that season. Individually, he had his share of flaws that would keep me from naming him the MVP of the entire league. While he averaged 16.2 rpg, his Field Goal Percentage left much to be desired at 45 %. When you look at the Metrics, Cowens did not even contribute the most Win Shares for the league. The NBA was already in a down period anyway, and honestly, it looks pretty underwhelming to see him win the MVP during one of the more competitive races of that decade. Here is the competition that Dave Cowens faced:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: (30.2 ppg/16.1 rpg/5.0 apg/55.4% FG/71.3% FT)
Nate Archibald: (34.0 ppg/2.8 rpg/11.4 apg/48.8 FG%/84.7% FT)
Wilt Chamberlain: (13.2 ppg/18.6 rpg/4.5 apg/72.7% FG%/51% FT)
John Havlicek: (23.8 ppg/7.1 rpg/6.6 apg/45% FG/85.8% FT)
Jerry West: (22.8 ppg/4.2 rpg/8.8 apg/47.9% FG/80.5% FT)

This was a fairly tight race, especially with Kareem's typical monster numbers during his heyday with Milwaukee. In my view, he was the most consistent player during that time period. Jabbar's field goal percentage was 10% higher than Cowens. Tiny pulled double duty as the Scoring Champion and the Assists Champion on a very subpar Kings team. Even he had a better shooting percentage than Cowens, while only playing as a POINT GUARD! Wilt led the NBA in Rebounding and Field Goal Percentage in his final season. He shot 72 percent. 72 PERCENT in his LAST Season!! That is the direct opposite of what he shot during his legendary rookie campaign in 1960 when he only shot 46%. These three players also had better Win Share numbers than Dave that season. Even his own teammate John Havlicek was building a pretty nice case for himself, although he was outclassed. Dave's numbers and efficiency were obviously eclipsed by the leading candidates in the race.

Now, here is where things really became shady. Here are the voting results:

Cowens won with 444 total votes. Here is the voting breakdown:
Dave Cowens: 444 votes (67 first place votes)
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 339 votes (33 first place votes)
Nate "Tiny" Archibald: 319 votes (44 first place votes)
Wilt Chamberlain: 123 votes (12 first place votes)

This has to be the most bizarre voting system that I have ever seen. Kareem ranked second in voting, but had eleven fewer votes than Archibald who ranked third? Cowens received 67 first place votes to win, which gave him twice as many votes as Jabbar who only had 33. Meanwhile, Tiny had 44 while finishing third. As far as I know, the player that finishes in second place should have more first place votes than the player who finishes in third. This MVP race was very much backwards. In typical Celtics fashion, Cowens was surrounded by a strong team. Meanwhile, he did not have a very transcendant season. Tiny was a scoring machine, but he loses points in my book because he KILLED his Team with his scoring. I cannot call you an MVP when you cannot carry your team into the Playoffs. Tiny was the Russell Westbrook of that time. Outstanding numbers, but could not lead the team into the postseason. If you are really valuable, you can take your team to that next level.

Rewrite:
With everything taken into account, I would like to rewrite history in my own way by awarding the MVP to the Alpha Dog of the NBA at that time. This man lead the Milwaukee Bucks to their first ever NBA Championship two years earlier with a veteran Point Guard named Oscar Robertson. This young, dynamic star won the Finals MVP that year, as he also led the NBA in Scoring that season. The following year, he led the NBA in Scoring again en route to another MVP with a career high 34.7 ppg. His campaign in 1973 was no different, with 30.2 ppg and 16.1 rpg as he continued to lead the Bucks as contenders. That player is none other than, Mr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

In all honesty, I felt that Kareem was seriously ROBBED of the MVP that Season. People talk about the 1993 & 1997 MVP Screwjobs where Michael Jordan was robbed in favor of Charles Barkley and Karl Malone. Well, Kareem himself is very familiar with that feeling as he experienced it 20 years earlier. I could accept Sir Charles and The Mailman as MVP's before I could accept Dave Cowens. Kareem was an Unstoppable Force down low in the Paint with the Greatest Weapon in NBA History, The Skyhook. He was the single most devastating player in Basketball, and the NBA needed to continue that trend of awarding him the MVP Trophy when he produced MVP worthy numbers. Kareem's individual numbers rivaled those of Nate Archibald. However, he made his team contenders the same way that Dave Cowens did. Kareem had better stats than Cowens, and was a better team leader than Tiny. Everyone knew who the Top Star was for the Bucks, and it was Kareem himself. Dave probably has the most flaws of any MVP Winner besides Wes Unseld and Bill Walton (more on that later). Even though I chose Wilt as the MVP of 1962, I can still respect Bill Russell's case more than Cowens. Kareem was the MOST Dominant Player of that Era, and he deserves to be rewarded whenever he had a season of dominance. Although he already has 6 MVP Awards, I can look back and say that it would be nice for him to have one more. In my world, Kareem is now a 7-time NBA Most Valuable Player. For the 1972-73 Season, Kareem was the REAL MVP.

History Rewritten: NBA MVP Awards (1969, 1970)

Here I am with another Installment of "History Rewritten", where I will look back on history from my perspective, and do my own reevaluations. This is coming from the world of my views, as I crown who I feel deserved to win certain awards, especially MVP Awards. This time, I will revisit the 1969 and 1970 NBA MVP Awards. This award was even more suspect than the 1962 MVP Race. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson each had the strongest cases for that year's Award. Russell was the Centerpiece (pun intended) for a Celtics Juggernaut, as he reigned supreme to win his second straight out of three MVP's at that point in his career. Bill dominated in his typical fashion, as the Defensive Architect and Consummate General. Wilt Chamberlain poured in an Astronomical 50/25 that season while shooting roughly 51% from the floor. The Big O also did the unthinkable when he recorded a full-fledge Triple Double. Never seen before, and never seen since. In the end, I had to revisit and crown Wilt as my MVP that season.

That race was more respectable, despite the favoritism that went in Russell's favor. However, the next MVP race that I will cover was even fishier than that. That is the 1969 MVP Race. The winner of the MVP that season was also the Rookie of the Year:

Wes Unseld:

Unseld's Season Statistics: (13.8 ppg/18.2 rpg/2.6 apg/47.6% FG/60.5% FT)

Don't get me wrong. Wes is a Hall of Famer and a Basketball legend, but there is no way that you could convince me that he was the Most Valuable Player of the entire league. He is in the history books next to Wilt Chamberlain as the ONLY two players to win both ROY (Rookie of the Year) and MVP (Most Valuable Player) in the same season. Wilt, I could understand. From the start, Chamberlain was an Unstoppable Beast on the court. You don't need metrics or analytics to determine how obviously great a player that Wilt was. On the other hand, Unseld did not come across to me as someone on that level that could win MVP as a rookie. I might be wrong, but there were players more compelling than him to win the MVP.

Here are the stats for Unseld's rivals that season:
Willis Reed: (21.1 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 52.1% FG, 60.5% FT)
Billy Cunningham: (24.8 ppg, 12.8 rpg, 3.5 apg, 42.6% FG, 74.7% FT)
Bill Russell: (9.9 ppg, 19.3 rpg, 4.9 apg, 43.3% FG, 52.6% FT)
Elgin Baylor: (24.8 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 5.4 apg, 44.7% FG, 74.3% FT)


Unseld won the MVP with 310 voting points and 53 first place votes.

Unseld's Competition:
Willis Reed: 137 (18 first place votes)
Billy Cunningham: 130 (15 first place votes)
Bill Russell: 93 (11 first place votes)
Elgin Baylor: 89 (6 first place votes)

With all things considered, my MVP choice for that season would be none other than the future MVP for the next season:

 

The Knicks were a team on the verge of breaking the glass ceiling to win their first NBA Championship. Reed was a major player during that season, and his production is proof of that. The Knicks were on the doorstep, but were held from going inside because the Celtics still held the key in Bill Russell's final season. Speaking of Russell, it is a testament to how special he was to even be considered as a candidate. At this point, I would not have voted for him but interesting. Billy Cunningham took on a new load after Wilt Chamberlain left the 76ers to go to Hollywood and play for the Los Angeles Lakers. That season, Cunningham played at a level worthy of MVP Consideration. The Kangaroo Kid was a very significant part of the Sixers Championship Season in 1967. He was very much in his prime, so it made perfect sense. Elgin Baylor had a great season with still something left in the tank to offer even though his knees would start to betray him. Jerry West and Wilt would have been nice considerations as well. Reed would win my MVP Award, with Cunningham in second place and Unseld in third.

 

1970 Season:

 

Now, time to move into the very next season. As we know, Willis Reed enjoyed a storybook season. He became the first player in NBA History to win All-Star, Regular Season and Finals MVP in the same season. Along the way, the Knicks would win their first of two NBA Championships in Franchise History.

 

After doing some homework, I have come to realize how tough the 1970 MVP Race was. The 1969 Race was a bit of a throwaway season that is not the most memorable or exciting in league history.

 

Reed's Seasonal Statline: 21.7 ppg/13.9 rpg/2.0 apg/50.7% FG/75.6% FT

 

Reed had another exceptional season, as it mirrored the previous season. His production was practically identical, but with a major increase in his free throw shooting. Willis was certainly the catalyst for the Knicks success. Collectively, the Knicks enjoyed the best campaign in team history. However, there were also some other players that were giving Reed a run for his money. Like with Russell, I believe that Reed received extra favor from the media.

 

Here are the other Candidates from that season:

Jerry West: (31.2 ppg/4.6 rpg/7.5 apg/49.7% FG/82.4% FT)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Lew Alcindor: (28.8 ppg/14.5 rpg/4.1 apg/51.8% FG/65.3% FT)

Walt Frazier: (20.9 ppg/6.0 rpg/8.2 apg/51.8% FG/74.8% FT)

Billy Cunningham: (26.1 ppg/13.6 rpg/4.3 apg/46.9% FG/72.9% FT)

Connie Hawkins: (24.6 ppg/10.4 rpg/4.8 apg/49.0% FG/77.9% FT)

 

Jerry West was the league's leading scorer that season, as he and Reed were separated by a difference of 10 votes between them. Kareem was also in consideration, as he would finish the season with the Rookie of the Year. He also had a very strong case for the award. If anything, Kareem had a better overall stat line than Willis except in FT %. Reed's very own teammate Walt Frazier was even in the running. Frazier had a higher field goal percentage than Willis, even though he played the point. Billy Cunningham was very impressive in his own way, but his Sixers were struggling. That hurt his case. Same with Connie Hawkins in Phoenix. He was one of the ultimate "What If?" stories in Basketball History.

 

Willis Reed won MVP with 498 votes and 61 first place votes. Here are the votes for his opponents:

 

Jerry West: 457 (51 1st place votes)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 335 (30 1st place votes)

Walt Frazier: 50 (4 1st place votes)

Billy Cunningham: 27 (2 1st place votes)

Connie Hawkins: 27 (2 1st place votes)

 

Reed beat West for the Award with 41 extra voting points. With everything considered, the Most Valuable Player of that time frame and my MVP will be, Jerry West:

 

 

 

West was without question the MVP for his team, and the MVP for that span of time in NBA History. Wilt Chamberlain was injured that season, and longtime teammate Elgin Baylor was breaking down even more. Jerry carried the largest load for the Lakers. Behind Chamberlain, Russell, and Robertson, West was the biggest star of his era. Now that Russell was out of the way, West took the time to excel even more. Unfortunately, the string of losses in the Finals are what kept The Logo from winning MVP in the eyes of the writers who were part of the voting panel. Jerry's constant shortcomings to Boston clearly had to be taken into consideration, regardless of how great he was as a player. West also had more Win Shares than Reed (West: 15.2, Reed: 14.6). Even Walt Frazier had more Win Shares than Willis (15.0). West and Frazier also had more Win Shares/Per 48 Minutes than Willis. (Frazier: 236, West: 234). The Logo was without question the Alpha Dog of the NBA, as he averaged 31.2 ppg. Jerry went from not even being in the race the previous season to being second place in voting. This season was an even better case for Mr. Clutch to win the honor. I would consider moving Kareem to second place, Frazier and Reed would be in 3rd and 4th place. Sadly, Mr. Clutch would suffer more heartbreak in the Finals as the Lakers ironically lost to the Knicks in 7 games. If only the three point line existed in those days. Jerry's legacy would be seen in a better perspective. The fact that Wes Unseld has an MVP instead of Jerry West, to me is absurd. With that being said, this is my chance to rewrite history in my own way. Jerry West is Mr. Clutch and Mr. MVP.

History Rewritten: NBA MVP Awards (1962)

Throughout the course of NBA History, we have seen our share of definitive NBA MVP Award Winners. Other years, it seems like the race can be fishy. This has been an issue that I have wrestled with for years because even great players have won Awards in seasons that I felt were not quite their best campaign. After reading literature such as Bill Simmons "The Book of Basketball", I have been inspired to do my own reconstruction of history. I may not have a DeLorean like Marty McFly with a Flux Capacitor to travel back in time, but I will use this platform to do just that. For today's case study, I would like to examine the 1962 NBA MVP Award.

1962 NBA MVP: Bill Russell:

Bill Russell's Season Statline: 18.9 ppg, 23.6 rpg, 4.5 apg, 45.7% FG, 59.5% FT

Already a two-time MVP winner, Russell peaked this season like many others, averaging an incredible 19-24-5 for a 60-win Boston team as he was the superhuman anchor of a great defensive minded team. Bill was certainly one of the defining players of his generation. On the other hand, this was one of the most competitive MVP races in NBA History and the most competitive of that era.

Here are his rivals from that season:

Wilt Chamberlain: (50.4 ppg, 25.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 50.6% FG, 61.3% FT)
Oscar Robertson: (30.8 ppg, 12.5 rpg, 11.4 apg, 47.8% FG, 80.3% FT)
Elgin Baylor: (38.3 ppg, 18.6 rpg, 4.6 apg, 42.8% FG, 75.4% FT)
Jerry West: (30.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 5.4 apg, 44.5% FG, 76.9% FT)
Bob Pettit: (31.1 ppg, 18.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 45% FG, 77.1% FT)
Richie Guerin: (29.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 6.9 apg, 44.2% FG, 82% FT)
Bob Cousy: (15.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 7.8 apg, 39.1% FG, 75.4% FT)

That was a very stiff battle, especially among the likes of Wilt, Big O and Elgin with West not too far behind. Wilt's numbers were just unheard of then and are still unheard of now. Oscar averaged an insane triple-double, regarded as the best point guard season in history outside of Magic Johnson. Elgin averaged 38-19-5 while only playing 48 games because of military duty that season. Fellow two-time MVP Bob Pettit still played at a high level and was among the elite scorers with a career-high of 31.1 ppg. His numbers were obviously eclipsed by those ahead of him in the race.


Russell won the honor with 297 votes. Here is the MVP voting breakdown:
Russell: 297 (51-12-6)
Wilt: 152 (9-30-17)
Oscar: 135 (13-13-31)
Elgin: 82 (3-18-13)
West: 60 (6-8-6)


Bill Russell took home the award with 51 first-place votes. Wilt finished second with 30-second place votes, 9 first place votes, leading to 152 overall votes. Oscar finished third with 31 third place votes but received more votes in first than Wilt. I have come to believe that perhaps Chamberlain was not very popular among the voters, as some of them happened to have been players themselves. Robertson finished with 135 votes. Elgin and West would round out the votes with Pettit, Guerin, and Cousy carrying the rear. Russell's season was very dominant and it should never be taken away from him. The stamp that he left on that team is remarkable. However, when it comes to that season, I would like to respectfully object to the voting as I look back on it. Bill had a great system around him, even though he did have a huge hand in making several teammates look better. He also had a Hall of Fame Architect named Red Auerbach as his coach.

Rewrite:
With Bill Russell's already impressive line of MVP Awards, I would like to rename the MVP for that Season. It will be none other than his archrival. A man that was the single most dominant force of that time, both physically and statistically. This MVP should go to none other than the other player that would have a stronghold on that trophy along with Russell. This player would also define the NBA during that Era.

That man is none other than, Wilt Chamberlain:

The Season that Wilt recorded is transcendent, regardless of the era. Statistics like those have never been seen before or since, even from Chamberlain himself. Contrary to what some may say, Chamberlain's supporting cast did not perform as a unit the same way that Russell's did. Nothing against Wilt's teams, but Russell's teammates collectively played like a machine. Chamberlain was the standout story that season. From his 100 point game to averaging 50+ ppg, the things that he did were astounding. Oscar's Triple Double was spectacular in and of itself. If Big O had those numbers without playing against Wilt and Russell, he would easily win the award. However, Wilt stood like a giant shadow over that season. He went above and beyond many of his contemporaries that season.  This is in no way to slight his peers. Some may accuse him of being a ball hog (he may have had a tendency to concern himself with stats sometimes), but he brought plenty of value to that team. Chamberlain added value to his team, as they would not have been the same if he was not there. This MVP Race seemed somewhat fishy, but it was given to someone who was equal to Wilt's caliber. In the end, Wilt was the king of that season. No offense to Russell, but I look at Wilt's resume and feel as though that 1962 Season ended without the proper respect. That kind of season should not have gone without the recognition that it greatly deserved. In my book, for the 1961-62 Season, Wilt Chamberlain was the REAL MVP.

Moses Malone: Unsung Hero



I would like to take this time to highlight one of the Unsung Hero's in NBA History as he reaches a milestone. NBA legend Moses Malone reaches 60. Moses was a pioneer, as he became the first player to come out of high school to become a star in the pros. Had it not been for Malone doing what he did, we would not see future Hall of Famers like KG, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. Moses jumped from St. Petersburg HS to the ABA in 1974 only at age 19. He started his career with the Utah Stars. There were flashes of brilliance in his game, as he was obviously much lighter as Moses had yet to fill out his 6'10" frame. After one season, Malone went to the Spirits of St. Louis, where he would spend his last ABA Season as the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976. Moses had a rocky start coming into the NBA as he was selected by the Portland Trailblazers in the ABA Dispersal Draft. However, the 21-year old Moses never played a single game for Portland, as he was traded to the Buffalo Braves for a 1978 first round draft choice in the first game of the 1976-77 season. Ironically, Portland would win the championship that season. After two games with Buffalo, Moses was traded to the Houston Rockets, where he would first make his mark as a star in the NBA. In Houston, Moses would establish himself as one of the most dangerous rebounders and premiere players in the league. His strength was offensive rebounding, as he was critical for creating second chance points. Malone finished the season with 13.2 ppg and 13.1 RPG. Very even season, as he ranked third behind only Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in rebounding. That year, he also set a record for most offensive rebounds in a season with 437. Malone also ranked 7th in blocked shots with 2.21 big. In the playoffs, Moses took his game to another level when he led the Rockets to the Eastern Conference Finals where they would lose to his future team, the Philadelphia 76ers. Malone averaged 18.8 ppg, and 16.9 ppg in 12 playoff games. The 1977-78 season would prematurely end for the rising young star when he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot, causing him to miss the final 23 games. However, Malone still led the NBA in offensive rebounds again (380) and finished second in rebounding average (15.0 RPG). That season, Moses made the first of 12 consecutive All-Star appearances. Had he gone to college, this would have been his senior season. Moses finished with 19.4 ppg, finishing third on the team behind Calvin Murphy (25.6) and Rudy Tomjanovich (21.5). During his first two seasons in Houston, Moses wore #21. In 1978-79, Moses switched to #24, which is the number he used for the remainder of his time with the Rockets. That was also Malone's breakout season, as he averaged 24.8 ppg, and a career-high 17.6 RPG to win his first NBA MVP Award at only age 24. If Moses had accepted the scholarship that was offered to him coming out of Petersburg, this would have been his rookie season. Instead, he was in his fifth campaign as a pro. Part of his success, this season came after adding 15 pounds in the offseason, bulking up to 235 lbs. Malone led the league in rebounding for the first time, and broke his own regular season record for most offensive rebounds with 587. That season, Moses also shot a career-high 54% from the field. Malone was the starting Center for the East in the All-Star Game, as he also made his first appearance on the All-NBA First Team along with All-Defensive Second Team honors. On February 9, 1979, Moses would grab a career-high 37 rebounds against the New Orleans Jazz. Houston made it to the playoffs but were swept by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Moses continued to carry the load for Houston, as he would average 25.8 ppg (5th) and 14.5 RPG (2nd) during the 1980 Season. Malone made his third straight All-Star Game Appearance as the Starter for the East. He would make the All-NBA Second Team, as Kareem would make the First Team by winning MVP that season. Moses' will and blue-collar dominance would lead the Rockets past the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, as he scored 37 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in the third and final game, as Houston would win 141-120. The Rockets would lose to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. In the 1980-81 season, the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs would be moved to the Western Conference (Midwest Division). That season, Malone would lead the franchise to their first NBA Finals appearance with 27.8 ppg, and 14.8 RPG in 80 games. He also made his 4th All-Star Team. In the playoffs, Malone would average 26.8 ppg with 14.5 RPG to help the 40-42 Rockets advance to the Finals. Houston would fall to the Boston Celtics in six games, as they were led by second-year star Larry Bird. In 1982, Moses would continue to produce spectacular numbers as he averaged a career-high 31.1 ppg with 14.7 RPG to capture his second MVP Award. This would be his second straight rebounding title, as he would finish second in scoring to George Gervin (32.3 ppg). Moses also led the league in minutes played and minutes per game (3,398, 42.0 mpg) along with offensive rebounds (558). This was a testament to how Moses was the ultimate workhorse in NBA history. He would also make the All-NBA 1st Team for the second time in his career. This would eventually be the last season for Moses in a Rockets uniform, as Houston would be eliminated in the first round by Seattle in three games. Moses was also instrumental in mentoring a young promising Big Man from Nigeria named Akeem (later Hakeem) Olajuwon during the offseason when Olajuwon was a freshman at the University of Houston.

At this time, the Houston Rockets were in the process of rebuilding, as they allowed restricted free agent Moses Malone to explore his options in the free agent market. On September 2, Moses Malone signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. Houston matched the offer, only to trade Moses to Philly anyway for Caldwell Jones and a 1983 first-round draft choice. In the end, the Sixers had the last laugh as Moses would lead them in scoring with 24.5 ppg (5th in NBA), along with rebounding with 15.3 RPG (1st in NBA). Moses was the final piece that the Sixers needed to win the championship. Dr. J had struggled for 6 NBA Seasons as Philadelphia lost in 3 NBA Finals appearances, as time was winding down for him to become an NBA Champion to further cement his legacy. Moses was clearly the right name, as he led the Sixers through the Red Sea of the NBA and to the Promise of the NBA Crown. That first season with Philadelphia was the best of Malone's tenure with the team, as he won his third MVP Award as the Sixers would pound the Showtime Lakers of Magic and Kareem in 4 games during the Finals. That would be considered as the defining season of his career, as he helped save Julius Erving's NBA legacy. The team could not be any better for Moses, as he completed a great starting lineup of the legendary Dr. J, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones. The Sixers were a powerhouse, as they cruised on the Moses Express. Moses was named NBA Finals MVP in dominant fashion with 26 ppg, and 15.8 RPG. At this point, Moses reached his pinnacle and pretty much peaked out with stratospheric numbers from the span of '79-'83. He was the clear-cut most dominant player in the league by this point. In 1983-84, Moses would be limited to 71 games from an ankle injury. He would average 22.7 ppg that year. The Sixers suffered an upset in the first round at the hands of the New Jersey Nets. Malone still led the league in rebounding once again with 13.1 RPG. Boston Celtic Small Forward Larry Bird would take control of the MVP Award from this point. In 1984-85, Malone would average 24.6 ppg for his eighth All-Star appearance. On November 28, 1984 Moses Malone scored his 15,000th point and grabbed his 10,000th rebound on March 29, 1985. With the addition of rookie Charles Barkley, the Sixers would make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals as they would ultimately lose to the Boston Celtics. As time would take its toll on the team (especially Dr. J), the Philadelphia 76ers would start a steady decline in the pecking order of the Eastern Conference as the Detroit Pistons would make their emergence. Moses Malone's 10th NBA Season would be his last with Philadelphia as it was cut short from a fractured orbital in his right eye. Without him, the Sixers would fall to the Milwaukee Bucks in 7 games in the ECSF. His reign as the rebounding king would come to an end as well. By the start of the 1986-87 season, Moses Malone was traded to the Washington Bullets. Malone bounced back in his 11th season with 24.1 ppg, and 11.3 RPG to make his 10th straight All-Star Game. On April 12, 1987 Moses scored his 20,000th career point. Malone would make another All-Star team with the Bullets in 1988, before signing with the Atlanta Hawks for the 1988-89 season to join Dominique Wilkins in the frontcourt. In his first season with the Hawks, Moses would record his 10th straight season averaging at least 20 ppg and 10 RPG. Although Moses was far from the player that he was in his glory days with the Rockets and Sixers, he still managed to make his 12th straight All-Star Game in Houston, the place where his NBA Career would start. Moses would fail to average 20/10 in 1989-90, which was the first time since his second season. Malone would spend his twilight years being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks before going back to the Sixers and ending with the San Antonio Spurs in 1995. By the way, in 1995 the Spurs were led by MVP David Robinson along with another Rebounding Stud named Dennis Rodman. He retired from a pretty great team. In 1996-97, Moses Malone was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players. In 2001, Moses was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as Dr. J was his presenter. When you factor his ABA Career along with his stellar 19-year NBA Career, Moses Malone's resume is outstanding:

• 29,580 Career Points (20.6 ppg, 7th All-Time in Points)
• 17,834 Career Rebounds (12.2 rpg, 3rd All-Time in Rebounds)
• 1,936 Assists (1.4 apg)
• NBA champion (1983)
• NBA Finals MVP (1983)
• 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1979, 1982–1983)
• 12× NBA All-Star (1978–1989)
• 2× ABA All-Star (1975–1976)
• 4× All-NBA First Team (1979, 1982–1983, 1985)
• 4× All-NBA Second Team (1980–1981, 1984, 1987)
• NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983)
• NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1979)
• ABA All-Rookie Team (1975)
• 6× NBA rebounding leader (1979, 1981–1985)
• NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
• ABA All-Time Team
• No. 24 retired by Houston Rockets

In an era that featured the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Moses managed to shine in his own way. What he achieved during that time is remarkable. He would be the bridge between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the reign Hakeem Olajuwon as the NBA's premiere Big Man from 1984 into the future. What Malone lacked in style, he more than made up for with incredible substance. Mr. Moses Malone was truly an unsung hero. "Fo, Fo, Fo".

 

 

LBJ 4 MVP

Congratulations to Mr. LeBron James for winning his 4th NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2012-2013 NBA Season. LeBron has now joined Elite Company, making him the 5th Player in NBA History to win at least four or more MVP Awards:
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6)
Michael Jordan (5)
Bill Russell (5)
Wilt Chamberlain (4)
LeBron James (4)

This is certainly a prestigious class to be a part of, which adds even greater value to LeBron's already impressive legacy. As always, LeBron has been playing like a man among boys this season. From the start, I pretty much knew that LeBron was the ultimate lock for the Award. No one else was even within striking distance of the award. James won 120 out of the 121 votes. He would have been the unanimous MVP if it had not been for scoring leader Carmelo Anthony winning that 1 vote. That is how lopsided the voting was. Not even KD received a vote, when he was second place last season. Shaq went through the same thing when he won the MVP in 2000, when Iverson had the 1 vote that kept him from being the unanimous winner. LeBron had another fantastic day in the office this season, as he averaged 26.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 7.3 apg, 1.7 spg, with an incredible career-high field goal percentage of 56%. LeBron also shot a career-high 40% from the 3-point line, while shooting 75% from the free throw line. Once again, LeBron led the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) for the sixth straight time in his career with a PER of 31.6. LeBron also led the league in Win Shares for the fifth season in a row (19.3), along with a career-high .322 Win Shares/Per 48 Minutes. James also shot a career-high in True Shooting Percentage, shooting 64%. Those are true examples of value, for both the team and the league. This season, LeBron James also became the "youngest" player in NBA History to reach 20,000 career total points. As I have said before, he is only considered the "fastest" because of age, but in terms of career, he is not. Either way, it was very impressive. LeBron was also named "NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month" for every month, except April. (November-March) This season, LeBron also went on a monstrous streak of games where he scored at least 30 or more points on 60% shooting or higher from the field. Even more recently, LeBron led the charge as the Miami Heat went on a 27-game winning streak, while finishing the season 66-16. With new additions such as Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, and Chris "Birdman" Anderson, LeBron found new players whose roles could be further enhanced by playing with him. This season, we have continued to see James be the general and march his team to success. Once again, we have seen LBJ continue to dominate on both ends of the court. LeBron has also earned the respect, and admiration from All-Time Greats such as Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Karl Malone as well as Bob Pettit to name a few. They expressed their appreciation of James during a roundtable interview with USA Today Sports. Kareem admires LeBron's desire to be the best. Bob Pettit sees his own commitment to strength and conditioning in LeBron's game. Moses Malone appreciates the path that he and James both took to NBA success coming straight out of High School, winning multiple MVP Awards and each a Finals MVP. Bill Russell has even said that he thinks of LeBron James the same way that he used to think about Wilt Chamberlain. Not to speak for anyone, but I am sure that Wilt would also have a certain admiration for LeBron James and everything that he brings to the table. Like Wilt, LeBron is head and shoulders above the rest, as his amazing individual production gives balance to his team success. Although Wilt only led his teams to 2 championships, he had 4 MVP's and multiple records to further solidify his legacy in other areas. James is carving his place in History even more. He continues to add more dimensions to his game. With all fairness to today's NBA, the competition looks more like St. Vincent St. Mary than the NBA that we have been so used to for years. This is not a swipe at LeBron, but to the rule changes. LeBron's versatility continues to reach new levels. However, James' season has orchestrated yet another incredible season to further etch his career to legend status.

Capt. Kareem Birthday Tribute

Captain Kar33m:

This week, I would like to wish a Happy 66th Birthday to NBA Icon and Legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Formerly known as Lewis Alcindor, Kareem was a force in basketball ever since playing on the Playgrounds of Rucker Park as well as being the star at Power Memorial High School. While at Power Memorial, Lew Alcindor led his team to a 27-game winning streak en route to the 1963 Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Championship. The streak continued into the following season as Alcindor led Power Memorial to an undefeated record while winning their 2nd Consecutive CHSAA Championship in 1964. Power Memorial's amazing streak ended at 71 games at the hands of Dematha High School, 46-43. During Alcindor's High School Career, Power Memorial went 96-6. The Undefeated 1963-64 team was named "The #1 High School Team of the Century" by National Sports Writers, while being inducted into the CHSAA Hall of Fame still being recognized as "The #1 High School Team of the Century". Overall, Power Memorial won three New York City Catholic High School Championships, with Alcindor being the key. Lew Alcindor would transfer his success over to UCLA, joining the freshmen team in 1965-66. In his freshman season, UCLA was ranked 1st in the preseason. However, during the season opener on November 27, 1965, Lew Alcindor led the freshman to a victory over the varsity team, 75-60. Alcindor scored 31 points while grabbing 21 rebounds during that winning effort. Alcindor would go on to play a total of four seasons with the Bruins (1966-69), under Hall of Fame Coach John Wooden. During his tenure, Alcindor led UCLA to a record of 88-2 in a three year run (1967-69). Lew Alcindor dominated the College Basketball landscape like no other player before or since. He rewrote the record books. UCLA will forever be "The House that Lew built". During his stellar college career, Alcindor received the following accolades:

Lew Alcindor at UCLA: 

• 3-time NCAA Champion (1967-69)
• 3-time NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player (1967-69)
• 3-time College National Player of the Year (1967-69)
• Led UCLA to 88-2 Record (1967-69)
• 3-time 1st Team All-American (1967-69)
• USBWA College Player of the Year (1967, 1968)
• 1st ever Naismith College Player of the Year (1969)
• 3-time Helms Foundation Player of the Year (1967-69)
• UCLA #33 retired

As a UCLA Bruin, Alcindor was a game changer in many ways. In 1967, dunking was banned from college basketball, because of his dominance of the shot. It would not return to college until 1976. On January 20, 1968, Lew Alcindor and the UCLA Bruins faced Elvin Hayes and the Houston Cougars in what would be known as the "Game of the Century". The Game was a history maker in large part, because it was the first ever nationally televised regular-season basketball game in NCAA History. The Game was held live at the Houston Astrodome in front of 52,693 fans. Big E dominated the game with 39 points, 15 rebounds, while Alcindor was limited to 15 points, because of the scratch on his left cornea (which caused him to later wear goggles). Houston defeat UCLA, 71-69. However, Alcindor would avenge that loss in the 1968 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, as UCLA annihilated Houston 101-69 in the semifinals. A healthy Alcindor scored 19 points with 18 rebounds. The Bruins would go on to win their 2nd straight National Championship. 

UCLA Records:

• Highest career scoring average: 26.4
• Most career field goals: 943 (tied w/Don MacLean)
• Most points in a season: 870 (1967)
• Highest season scoring average: 29.0 (1967)
• Most field goals in a season: 346 (1967)
• Most free throw attempts in a season: 274 (1967)
• Most points in a single game: 61
• Most field goals in a single game: 26 (vs. Washington State, 2/25/1967)

Of course, Alcindor would go on to become the 1st Overall Pick of the 1969 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Lew Alcindor's arrival came at the perfect time, following the departure of Bill Russell. Automatically, Alcindor would be linked to Wilt Chamberlain as his future successor, as Wilt was 33 years old. During the 1969-70 season, Alcindor's dominance led the Bucks to a 29-game improvement from the previous season. That season, Milwaukee went from 27-55, to 56-26 leading them to second place in the Eastern Conference. His impact was immediate, as he ranked 2nd in scoring (28.8 ppg) and 3rd in rebounding (14.5 rpg), on 51% shooting from the field. while unanimously winning the NBA Rookie of the Year. Alcindor was also named to his first of a record 19 All-Star Games. Things only improved for Milwaukee, as they acquired Hall of Fame Point Guard "Big O" Oscar Robertson from the Cincinnati Royals. During the 1970-71 campaign, Alcindor would lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 66 win season (20 game win streak), with Oscar Robertson by his side. That season, Alcindor won his first scoring title (31.7 ppg), along with 16.0 rpg, on 57% shooting. which also earned him his 1st out of a record 6 NBA Most Valuable Player Awards. In the playoffs, the Bucks went 12-2, while sweeping the Baltimore Bullets (4-0) to win their first championship in franchise history. During the Finals, Lew Alcindor was named NBA Finals MVP (27.0/18.5/2.8). After the Finals, Alcindor officially changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His production didn't hurt however. In 1971-72, Kareem won his second straight MVP Award, while leading the NBA in scoring for the second time. Kareem averaged a career-high 34.8 ppg, while averaging 16.6 rpg, and 4.6 apg on 57% FG. That season, Jabbar also led the Bucks in ending the Lakers 33-game winning streak. In 1972-73, Kareem recorded his third straight season of 30 ppg or higher (30.2) with 16.1 rpg, and 5.0 apg on 55% FG. (Personally, I believe Kareem was the real MVP that season) In 1973-74, Kareem won his third MVP Award in five seasons while averaging 27.0/14.5/4.8 on 54% FG shooting. This was also the first season that Blocks/Steals were recorded as Kareem averaged 3.5 bpg. That season, Jabbar led the Bucks back to the NBA Finals, where they would fall short to the Boston Celtics in seven games. However, Kareem was terrific (32.6/12.1/5.4). The following season (1974-75) would be Kareem's last in Milwaukee. That season, he averaged 30.0/14.0/4.1 as he led the league in blocks. (3.3 bpg)
                                                       

Lew Alcindor's 1971 MVP Season w/Milwaukee Bucks:

                                                   

Kareem would later depart to Los Angeles to play for the Lakers, the team that he spent 14 of his 20 seasons with. Therefore, this is the team he has been the most famous for. As a Laker, Kareem did not miss a beat. In his first season (1975-76), Kareem averaged 27.7 ppg on 53% shooting, while leading the NBA in Rebounding (16.9 rpg- career- high), and Blocks. (4.1 bpg- career high) Therefore, it was no surprise that Kareem won MVP in his first season as a Laker.  In 1976-77, Jabbar also led the league in Field Goal Percentage (58%- career high), while averaging 26.2/13.3/3.9.3.2. Kareem's production earned him his fifth MVP (second straight with the Lakers). Kareem missed his only All-Star game because of an injury that season. However, he picked things back up the following season. In 1978-79, Kareem averaged 23.8/12.8/5.4 with a league best 4.0 bpg. In 1979-80, Kareem won his sixth and final MVP Award (24.8/10.8/4.5/3.4) Kareem led the NBA in Blocks for the fourth time (3.4 bpg), while also shooting a career-high 60% from the field. With Rookie Sensation Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Kareem and the Lakers were rejuvenated making their first Finals appearance since 1973. That season, the Lakers went 60-22. Kareem was phenomenal in the playoffs, averaging 31.9 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, and 3.9 bpg. Kareem had his best Finals performance as the Lakers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games. (33.4/13.6/4.6/3.2) Kareem also had a field goal percentage of 54%, while shooting an incredible 80% from the free throw line. However, that amazing production was overshadowed when Kareem went down with an injury during Game 5. Kareem was ROBBED of the Finals MVP Award, when Magic Johnson caught lighting in a bottle in Game 6, where he recorded 42 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists. It was an incredible game, but Kareem was the REAL MVP of that series. This was clearly an example of the media cherry picking to snub the best player (Kareem), because they did not like his personality. Instead, they wanted to award their personal favorite (Magic) even though Kareem was more established, proven and had a Legendary series. Personality aside, Kareem carried more weight for that team and was the True Leader, regardless of his character flaws. When analyzing and awarding athletes, I throw personality issues out of the window and focus on what they do in the games. That is how it should be. As much as I respect Magic Johnson, that Finals MVP will always be tainted in my book. Not to cry over spilled milk, but I just had to vent for a moment. Kareem was the "Leader" on his first of 5 Championships as a Laker. In 1980-81, the Lakers suffered a Sophomore slump, with a Magic Johnson injury and lack of team chemistry. Both issues came to bite them in the playoffs, as they were upset by the Rockets in the 1st Round. In the 1982 Finals, Magic truly made the emergence of being an equal Co-Leader. That series, he averaged, 16/10/8, winning the 2nd Finals MVP. During this time, Kareem's production would take a decline, because of his age. Having an incredible squad with the likes of Magic Johnson, James Worthy and others took the load off of Kareem's shoulders, while covering his weaknesses from age. On April 5th 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar surpassed Wilt Chamberlain to become the All-Time Leading Scorer in NBA History (A record he still holds to this day).


                                       Here is where Kareem breaks Wilt's Career Scoring Record:
                                                                      (4/5/1984)

After two consecutive losses in the Finals (1983 to Sixers, 1984 to Celtics), the Lakers redeemed themselves. While going 62-20, the Lakers returned to the NBA Mountain. This season was historic because of a number of things: The Lakers won their first championship over the Celtics in the history of their rivalry. Kareem became the oldest player to win Finals MVP. (25.7/9.0/5.2) After an upset by the Rockets in the 1986 WCF, Kareem handed the scoring load over to Magic Johnson. As a result, the Lakers won back-to-back Championships (1987, 1988) becoming the first team to do that since the Celtics. (1968-69) Kareem would finally retire after the 1989 season. During the time of his retirement, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the NBA's All-Time Leader in points scored, all-star games, games played, minutes played, field goals made, field goals attempted, blocked shots, defensive rebounds and personal fouls. Kareem was widely considered the Greatest Player in NBA History, before the Dominance of Michael Jordan. Kareem's body of work speaks for itself, and you could still make a strong argument today.As I have always said, if you include what he did in High School (Power Memorial) along with College (UCLA), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the most accomplished player in the History of Basketball on all levels, including the Pros.

                                There are still those today that consider him the greatest, like his peer Julius Erving:

As the Master of the Sky Hook, Kareem was able to pile honor after honor, while terrorizing opponents. Here are his achievements:

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (20 NBA Seasons):

• 19x NBA All-Star (1970-77, 1979-89) (Most in NBA History)
• 6x NBA Most Valuable Player (1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980)
• Second Place for MVP once (1973)
• Third Place twice ('70, '81)
• Top Five 15 times ('70-'81, '84-'86)
• Top Ten 17 times ('70-'86)
• 2x Scoring Champion (1971, 1972)
• 4 Seasons of 30+ ppg
• 1 Season of 32+ ppg
• Rebounding Champion (1976)
• 4x Blocks Leader (1975, 1976, 1979, 1980)
• 6x NBA Champion (1971, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
• 2x NBA Finals MVP (1971, 1985)
• 10x All-NBA 1st Team (1971-'74, '76-'77, 1980-'81, '84, '86)
• 5x All-NBA 2nd Team (1970, 1978-'79, '83, '85)
• 5x All-Defensive 1st Team (1974-'75, 1979-'81)
• 6x All-Defensive 2nd Team (1970-'71, 1976-'78, 1984)
• NBA All-Rookie 1st Team (1970)
• NBA Rookie of the Year (1970)
• 38,387 Total Points (1st in NBA History)
• 17,440 Total Rebounds (3rd in NBA History)
• 3,189 Total Blocks (3rd in NBA History)
• Minutes Played (57,446)
• Field Goals Made (15,837)
• Field Goals Attempted (28,307)
• Regular Season: 24.6 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 3.6 APG, 2.6 BPG, 56% FG, 72% FT
• Playoffs: 24.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.4 BPG, 53% FG, 74% FT

                                        

2012: The Year of LeBron

Congratulations to LeBron James for winning his first title, while leading the Miami Heat to victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals. Therefore, LeBron James' victory as the Leader of a championship team, further solidifies and cements his legacy among the all-time greats, adding a Finals MVP trophy along with his 3 MVP Awards. Now, LeBron has proven that he is indeed an Alpha Dog level player, both in the regular season and in the postseason with an incredible playoff run to add to that. LeBron's versatility is on another level apart from the rest of the league. As for those critics that say that LeBron is not "clutch" or a "killer", as The Rock says, they can know their role and shut their mouth!! LeBron has given the ultimate validation and confirmation, that he can in fact, close the deal. In fact, he has often "closed" the game more than his star sidekick Dwyane Wade. Excluding last year's Finals vs. the Mavs, James was the more consistent player for that team. LeBron is 45% in Game-winning situations, while Wade is 33%. During the series against the Celtics, LeBron was the driving force. In the Eastern Conference Finals vs Chicago, LeBron was the ultimate weapon to destroy League MVP Derrick Rose. During the offseason, LeBron went on a mission, with full focus. He goes to Houston to train with Hall of Famer, and NBA Legend Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon to improve his low post game. The training brought great results, as LeBron cut out his jump shooting, and took more control down low in the paint. As a result, he recorded a career high field goal percentage of 53%. During a compacted, sloppy lockout-shortened 66 game season, LeBron James was the most consistent player throughout the league, especially for his team. By the way, did I mention before that this year's average FG % was 45 percent? Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade, the man that many called the main leader on the team, played anything like it, as he missed nearly half of the season with injuries, along with inconsistent play, bringing in only 22 ppg. Along with a great shooting percentage, LeBron's numbers were his typical well-rounded stats across the board, as he averaged merely 27.1 ppg, 7.9 RPGs, and 6.2 apg. LeBron turned up the Heat (no pun intended) in the playoffs, with a phenomenal 30.3 ppg, 9.7 rpg, and 5.6 apg, off of 50% shooting, with a playoff run that we have not seen for quite some time, since Prime Shaq, & Tim Duncan. During this time, he guarded everyone from Carmelo Anthony, Danny Grainger, Rondo, Paul Pierce, to Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. The highlights of this run included a (40/18/9) in Game 4 of the East Semis ,vs the Pacers, (45/15/5) in Game 6 of the ECF vs. the Celtics, and a triple double (26/11/13) in Game 5 of the Finals vs. The Thunder. In the first round, he burned the Knicks with (27.2/6.2/5.6). In the Conference Semis vs. Indiana, he obliterated the Pacers for (30.0/10.8/6.2). In the Conference Finals, he went on a rampage (33.6/11.0/3.9). In the Finals, he cleaned Kevin Durant & the Thunder's clock (28.6/10.2/7.4). When someone is hungry for a title, they have a breakout season that I call their "statement" season. In this case for Michael, it was 1991 vs. the Lakers, when he vanquished them for 31/6/11 55% FG, in his quest for his very first title, and First Finals MVP. (He would soon make many more statements). That season, he went on to win League MVP (31.5/6.0/5.5/2.7), and led the Bulls through a season in which they could not be stopped. For Magic Johnson, it was 1987, when he had his greatest individual season (24/6.3/12.2) en route to his first MVP (his best MVP season). Johnson was bashed for the way he & the Lakers underperformed the previous year vs. The Houston Rockets in the WCF. This season, Magic went on to lead the Lakers to a 65-17 record on the way to putting away arch-rival Larry Bird's Celtics once and for all. For the Finals, Johnson averaged (26.2/8.0/13.0). These are just the few of many great examples, where a player is on a seek & destroy mission, where they blow the competition, and leave a trail of bodies behind. These are the kind of seasons, where a player has that standout, defining season, where they make their mark as the undisputed "Best Player in the NBA" by winning League MVP, while leading his team to a title, then earning "Finals MVP", to stand as the best in both regular & postseason. This season, LeBron James definitively, and undeniably made that claim, as he put his ultimate stamp on the league as the best in the world. This year, along with the rest of his consistency during his career, has launched LeBron higher into the upper echelon of NBA Greatness. LeBron's legend will only continue to grow.

LeBron James- MV6

It is official. LeBron James has been crowned the MVP for the 3rd time in his career, and has solidified his place as the best all-around player for both his team and the regular season. The award goes to who has added the most value for his team and the most dominating player throughout the league and he certainly has fit both forms of criteria for the past 4 years. In spite of a truncated 66 game regular season, LeBron has played out of his mind. He has not only enhanced his game in the low post from his training with Hakeem Olajuwon, but he has also peaked statistically, with an insane career high field goal percentage of .531. Only 3 other players have had reached a stronger stat level in the regular season:

1. Michael Jordan ('88, '89, '90, '91)
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ('71, '72)
3. Wilt Chamberlain ('62, '63)

Appropriately, these players are my Top 3 Players of all-time. Now, I am not going off the deep end to compare LeBron to any of these guys on a larger scale like others do, but when you look at regular season, he is in very good company (when you look at NBA Metrics). Out of this list, only MJ and Kareem won the MVP during those great seasons. LeBron averaged 27.1 ppg (Career average), while shooting 53% while the league average field goal % was 45. The incedible versatility of LeBron James is what puts him above the rest, because of how efficient he is as a scorer, his terrific playmaking ability as a passer, his great rebounding to open up for his transition game, unbelievable athleticism, and improved defense. If you are looking for those ingredients all in one superstar, LeBron James is the answer. LeBron has been a master at opening the floor for his teammates and he has been able to guard every position from the 1-5 effectively. James has been the most consistent member of the Miami Heat, when their co-Alpha Dog (Dwyane Wade) has missed at least 40% of the season due to injury, relegating him to the No. 2 man on the team. This award is very valuable to a player's legacy and this raises LeBron's stock even further at this point. This dynamic reminds me of the Moses Malone/Dr. J tag team in 1983. At the time, Moses Malone was the most dominant player in the league as the reigning MVP with the Houston Rockets. Malone won his 2nd MVP award in his last season with the Rockets the previous year, with a phenomenal campaign while posting a career high 31.1 ppg, and 14.7 rpg. His first season with the Sixers, nothing changed for him from a performance standpoint. He was the best player on an already stacked team, leading the way with 24.5 ppg (5th in the league), while still leading the league in rebounding (15.3 rpg). Moses was the largest piece of the 76ers puzzle to overpower their opponents with a 65-17 record, a 13-1 playoff record (including a Finals sweep of the Lakers) and a Finals MVP for Malone. That story sounds awfully familiar doesn't it? Yes, the same story is being re-written nearly 30 years later. This time, LeBron James plays Moses Malone, and Dwyane Wade plays Dr. J. James was a force in Cleveland like Moses was in Houston. Now, he is on a more stacked team like his predecessor was. LeBron is now in elite company as one of four players in history to win multiple MVPs on multiple teams (Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone). These are the same men that I have alluded to previously in this article, and like LeBron, each player has won another MVP as a member of a new team.
1. Chamberlain was the first, as he won his 1st with the Warriors in his rookie year (1960). Six years later, as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, he wins his 2nd of an eventual 4 for his career ('60, '66, '67, '68).
2. Kareem was a record 6-time MVP, as he won his first 3 with the Milwaukee Bucks (1971, 1972, 1974) with two scoring titles as a bonus. Jabbar went on to win another 3 with the Los Angeles Lakers (1976, 1977, 1980).
3.Finally, last but not least, Moses Malone. To add further detail, Malone won his first 2 MVPs with the Rockets (1979, 1982) and his last with the Sixers (1983). The most important element for each of these players is this: They all closed out one of those campaigns with a championship. Wilt won his first title in his 3rd MVP year (1967). Kareem won two of his six rings during his first MVP season ('71) and his last MVP campaign ('80). As you already know, Moses won his only ring in his one MVP year with Philly ('83).

Now, it is time for LeBron to settle the biggest piece of unfinished business: Winning a championship. I don't want to sound like someone who overemphasizes rings, but for a player of his caliber & expectations it will further complete the painting of his body of work. This will certainly be a great form of redemption for a future Hall of Famer, Top 50 player, and one of the top 5 Small Forwards of All-Time. For those of you who say that LeBron is not clutch, let me remind you that he has orchestrated numerous great fourth quarter performances from his days with the Cavs, even several with the Heat. While LeBron layed a colossal egg in last year's Finals vs. the Mavs, he has had his share of classic playoff greatness (His destruction of the Wizards in '06, his 48-point Massacre of the Pistons in '07, his Game 7 duel with Paul Pierce in '08, and last year's domination against the Celtics & Bulls). The ultimate icing on LeBron's cake is the ring, like Nowitzki last year and many others before. I am not a LeBron-tard bandwagon fan that equates LeBron to Michael and co. but I am a fan of great players striving for greatness. I have let go of my frustration from "The Decision" in 2010 and want to see him put the ultimate exclamation point on his legacy so that everyone can finally SHUT UP!!